Sevilla coach knocked unconscious

Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey tie between local rivals Real Betis and Sevilla was abandoned after Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious after being struck by a bottle thrown from the stands.

The incident happened shortly after Sevilla had taken a 56th-minute lead through striker Frederic Kanoute.

Ramos was taken away on a stretcher and received medical attention before regaining consciousness. He was later transferred to a local hospital where he was detained overnight before being released on Thursday morning.

Sevilla’s first-team doctor Adolfo Munoz told SFC Radio: “(Ramos) does not have any problems at a neurological level.

“We have followed medical protocol and taken him to a healthcare centre to make a more detailed study.

“Most probably he will remain under observation for 12 hours.”

Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco immediately stopped play following the incident while the Sevilla team left the pitch.

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido absolved Betis of any blame after the match.

“You have to point the finger at the culprit, only the culprit.

“This could have happened at any ground. Nobody can avoid this if, among the thousands of fans who enter the stadium, there are 10 lunatics, and unfortunately this happened here.”

Betis have also issued a statement, saying: “The Real Betis board, the coaching staff and players lament the isolated incident which caused the suspension of the Copa del Rey quarter-final.

“It is the hope of Real Betis Football Club that Juande Ramos has a quick and total recovery.

“We understand and respect the decision of the refereeing trio to suspend the game, at the sight of that isolated incident, as they have acted according to the rules.”

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